Sengaku-ji Temple (the 47 Ronin)
Sengaku-ji Temple houses the graves of the 47 loyal retainers of Lord Asano, whose story was recently 'retold' in the 2013 movie 47 Ronin. The incidents resonate with the Japanese as it epitomises what it meant to be a samurai.
Putting aside the absurd embellishments and cultural mishmash of Hollywood's $175 milion flop, the actual Ako incident begins with two young daimyo lords being instructed by an older lord in the correct etiquette for the Tokugawa court. Historical details are not clear, and commercial issues (as the Ako clan held valuable salt fields) may have motivated the insults and the baiting. Using weapons at the Tokugawa court was forbidden, but the upshot was that Lord Asano Naganori, insulted by his older instructor, drew a dagger on Lord Kira Yoshinaka and attacked him. Kira was only slightly hurt but, questioned after the event, Asano's only regret was that he failed to kill Kira, a poor defence as Asano was then required to commit seppuku. The Ako clan and army were disbanded and the samurai, being masterless, became ronin.
Kira had an obnoxious personality; and having escaped punishment was expecting a revenge attack. The loyal retainers' strategy was to hide their weapons and pretend to be shattered by the decision. Their leader, Ôishi Kuranosuke, left his wife and began a seeming life of dissipation while planning the attack that was to follow. More than a year later, on 14 December 1702, the 47 attacked Kira's mansion, taking his army by surprise, beheading Kira, and bringing the head to Asano's grave to avenge his death.
As the retainers had done what the code of the samurai demanded, the government's decision to order them to commit suicide by seppuku, which they did on 3 February 1703, was unpopular. The story has been kept alive in kabuki plays and films including Chushingura.
The graves of the 47 retainers are here. The green roof marks Ôishi's grave, and his son's grave is out of shot on left. Incense sticks can be seen on the graves. Lord Asano's grave is nearby, and there are museums on the grounds which have likenesses of the samurai and their personal effects.
In my opinion 47 Ronin is a strange beast because it links in mixed race (Keanu Reeves' character), fantastic monsters, a sorceress and a love story in a Hollywood way which alienates the most interested audience (Japanese) without broadening it. The witchcraft and monsters look more Chinese than Japanese, and the film was a disaster in Japan. On the plus side the story's history comes through (with plenty of added nonsense), the film is well paced, the acting good, and the special effects spectacular (although irrelevant). But what were they thinking..?
Sengaku-ji Temple (the 47 Ronin)
Sengaku-ji Temple houses the graves of the 47 loyal retainers of Lord Asano, whose story was recently 'retold' in the 2013 movie 47 Ronin. The incidents resonate with the Japanese as it epitomises what it meant to be a samurai.
Putting aside the absurd embellishments and cultural mishmash of Hollywood's $175 milion flop, the actual Ako incident begins with two young daimyo lords being instructed by an older lord in the correct etiquette for the Tokugawa court. Historical details are not clear, and commercial issues (as the Ako clan held valuable salt fields) may have motivated the insults and the baiting. Using weapons at the Tokugawa court was forbidden, but the upshot was that Lord Asano Naganori, insulted by his older instructor, drew a dagger on Lord Kira Yoshinaka and attacked him. Kira was only slightly hurt but, questioned after the event, Asano's only regret was that he failed to kill Kira, a poor defence as Asano was then required to commit seppuku. The Ako clan and army were disbanded and the samurai, being masterless, became ronin.
Kira had an obnoxious personality; and having escaped punishment was expecting a revenge attack. The loyal retainers' strategy was to hide their weapons and pretend to be shattered by the decision. Their leader, Ôishi Kuranosuke, left his wife and began a seeming life of dissipation while planning the attack that was to follow. More than a year later, on 14 December 1702, the 47 attacked Kira's mansion, taking his army by surprise, beheading Kira, and bringing the head to Asano's grave to avenge his death.
As the retainers had done what the code of the samurai demanded, the government's decision to order them to commit suicide by seppuku, which they did on 3 February 1703, was unpopular. The story has been kept alive in kabuki plays and films including Chushingura.
The graves of the 47 retainers are here. The green roof marks Ôishi's grave, and his son's grave is out of shot on left. Incense sticks can be seen on the graves. Lord Asano's grave is nearby, and there are museums on the grounds which have likenesses of the samurai and their personal effects.
In my opinion 47 Ronin is a strange beast because it links in mixed race (Keanu Reeves' character), fantastic monsters, a sorceress and a love story in a Hollywood way which alienates the most interested audience (Japanese) without broadening it. The witchcraft and monsters look more Chinese than Japanese, and the film was a disaster in Japan. On the plus side the story's history comes through (with plenty of added nonsense), the film is well paced, the acting good, and the special effects spectacular (although irrelevant). But what were they thinking..?